15 Sights from Today's Pilgrimage to Chimayó

Thousands flock to the town's Santuario for Holy Friday

Devotees in the tens of thousands made the pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayó, some 30 miles form Santa Fe, today.

Faithful from as far away as Albuquerque and beyond braved the unpredictable weather yesterday and today to partake in the rite.

"A pilgrimage is a journey of the body and soul…Regardless of our religion," the Santuario's website explains. "A pilgrimage should not be undertaken lightly but neither should it be undertaken in fear. It is intended to be a journey of joy and fulfillment."

Book-ended by its iconic bell towers, the historic adobe structure was built in 1816. Dubbed as "no doubt the most important Catholic pilgrimage center in the United States" by the New Mexico Office of the State Historian, the Santuario hosts 300,000 visitors annually—approximately 10 percent of those during Holy Week.

Here are some of the sights from today's pilgrimage:

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Have you done the pilgrimage yourself? Share your experience in the comments section below.